Kif Liakath-Ali
@kifla.bsky.social
Lecturer/ Assistant Professor in Advanced Cell Biology, University of Southampton, UK. Alumni: Stanford, Cambridge, Kings College London. 🇬🇧 🇮🇳 தமிழ் #FirstGen #NewPI. RNA Splicing Investigator at www.spliclab.co.uk
Delighted to share that our @bioprotocolbyte Special Issue, “Technologies for RNA Detection,” edited by @marionhogg.bsky.social and me, is now published. bio-protocol.org/en/archive?v... It brings together methods spanning biochemistry to computational biology, plus our mini‑review -Check it out!
Paper alert! Our new study identifies a novel trans‑synaptic complex as essential for pattern separation memory in mouse EC→DG circuit. Deleting Cbln4 in EC or Neo1 in DG disrupts pattern separation (but not pattern completion) @jaipolepalli.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Final call — submissions close 15 March 2026! We’re wrapping up submissions for our Bio‑protocol special issue on RNA detection methods. If you’ve built a clear experimental or computational protocol that others can reliably use in RNA field, this is your moment. en.bio-protocol.org/content17
Call for Papers Special Issue on Technologies for RNA Detection —BIO-PROTOCOL
en.bio-protocol.org
Kif Liakath-Ali@kifla.bsky.social · last yr.Love RNA biology and care about reproducibility? I’m co-editing a @bio-protocol.bsky.social special issue with @marionhogg.bsky.social & Renate Weizbauer —focusing open access and transparent RNA detection protocols. Submit yours today - en.bio-protocol.org/content17 #OpenScience #ReproRNAbiology
Excited to share our first publication of the year @mcf-uom.bsky.social . Here is a very detailed protocol how to do band-shift assays thanks to @davidmcquarrie.bsky.social and for the invitation @kifla.bsky.social bio-protocol.org/en/bpdetail?...
We have been receiving excellent protocol papers for this collection. Submission still open!
Kif Liakath-Ali@kifla.bsky.social · last yr.Love RNA biology and care about reproducibility? I’m co-editing a @bio-protocol.bsky.social special issue with @marionhogg.bsky.social & Renate Weizbauer —focusing open access and transparent RNA detection protocols. Submit yours today - en.bio-protocol.org/content17 #OpenScience #ReproRNAbiology
New BBSRC funded PhD opportunity in my group with Inspiralis Ltd and @conradn.bsky.social. If you are interested in RNA - protein interactions and RNA modifications check the details below for how to apply. @nrpdtp.bsky.social @biouea.bsky.social @earlhaminst.bsky.social tinyurl.com/bdzvn4dr
How do RNA molecules shape genome regulation in the nervous system? (AKAY_U26CASE) | Doctoral Training Partnership
This PhD project will investigate how RNA modifications influence the activity of topoisomerase I (TOP1), a crucial enzyme that regulates DNA supercoiling during replication and transcription. Using C...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
Very honest and very good World View from Severine Toussaert www.nature.com/articles/d41..., one that is very much in tune with our recent proposals for a framework to incentivise publication of negative or null results: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Six journal rejections and a major rethink: why I’m happy to admit to my research failures, and you should too
Outlining the trial-and-error processes that are involved in every research project could help others to become more efficient and paint a more honest picture of life as a researcher.
nature.com
And it is this kind of messages that makes us keep going in academia!
Sharing knowledge is a fundamental principle within the scientific community, yet null and negative results are still being underreported. @scurry.bsky.social &co present a roadmap to a solution that has a role for everyone in the scientific community 🧪 #Academicsky #reproducibility plos.io/3VwaU2O
Ending publication bias: A values-based approach to surface null and negative results
Sharing knowledge is a fundamental principle within the scientific community, yet null and negative results are still being underreported. This Consensus View discusses the problem of such publication...
plos.io
Null & negative results ≠ failure. They’re essential—but still sidelined. Proud to co-author this @plosbiology.org paper tackling systemic bias & calling for culture change. ECRs pay the highest price for this biased culture! Blog by @scurry.bsky.social tinyurl.com/ysc23wrx #PublicationBias
Ending publication bias: A values-based approach to surface null and negative results
Sharing knowledge is a fundamental principle within the scientific community, yet null and negative results are still being underreported. This Consensus View discusses the problem of such publication...
journals.plos.org
A year ago, The Splice Lab was just me. Now it is filled with talented, fun-loving people. Navigating this growth phase is both challenging and rewarding as we bid farewel to colleagues while welcoming fresh talents! www.splicelab.co.uk @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
✨Special Issue Editors: @kifla.bsky.social | @marionhogg.bsky.social | Renate Weizbauer PhD #LifeSciences #RNA #OpenScience #Technologies
Love RNA biology and care about reproducibility? I’m co-editing a @bio-protocol.bsky.social special issue with @marionhogg.bsky.social & Renate Weizbauer —focusing open access and transparent RNA detection protocols. Submit yours today - en.bio-protocol.org/content17 #OpenScience #ReproRNAbiology
A lot of unnecessary administration to make administration look like necessary for the sake of fat salaries. There used to be times when academics had the say.
Alper Akay@alperakay.bsky.social · last yr.This is not unique to Dundee Uni. Across UK higher education mismanagement is widespread. Uni leaders like blaming fees, student numbers economy but at the bottom of it, it is university leaders that have been walking blindly into a catastrophe year after year. Let’s see more of these reports.
"Thinking time —the time needed to concentrate without interruptions has always been central to scholarly work. It is essential to designing experiments, compiling data, assessing results, reviewing literature and, of course, writing. Yet, [it] is often undervalued." www.nature.com/articles/d41...
We’re accepting applications for our Accelerator Awards. This opportunity aims to support researchers of Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani heritage in the UK to undertake activities that help them build a stronger profile to make successful career transitions within academia. Find out more ⤵️
Accelerator Awards | Grant funding | Wellcome
Eligibility and applications details for the Wellcome Accelerator Awards, which will support Black, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani researchers in the UK to make successful career transitions.
wellcome.org
“Given the very real consequences for our competitiveness, our standard of living and, yes, also our bottom lines, we all ought to be making the case for aggressively funding basic science.” www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...
Opinion | The White House Tech Bros Owe Their Fortunes to the Research They’re Killing
Underlying many investments are breakthroughs in medicine and technology from great universities.
nytimes.com
Killing the Science Golden Goose - The American Journal of Medicine www.amjmed.com/article/S000...
Killing the Science Golden Goose
In the 1970’s I was probably one of the last American high school students who was told that if you wanted to go to medical school, you should learn to speak German. This was because in the late 19th ...
amjmed.com
For American readers, this is from one of the UK's leading right-wing newspapers today. The game is up. www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2...
It’s over. America has ceased to be leader of the free world
Accidentally copying in a journalist to senior officials’ private thoughts about Europe was a gift of Providence
telegraph.co.uk
Great kickstart of UK Young Academy - All Members Meeting today @royalsociety.org, one of the senior partner academies of UKYA. Lot to hear about the past achievements and future goals. #UKYA
Excited to be @acmedsci.bsky.social today for the official induction of UK Young Academy membership among 42 new early career professionals that aspire to champion positive change in society.
Deeply honoured to be selected as a member of the prestigious UK Young Academy and join these trailblazing minds in creating positive change. Looking forward to collaborating with fellow academics and researchers as we tackle pressing challenges in science and society. @unisouthampton.bsky.social
UK Young Academy appoints 42 new emerging leaders | UK Young Academy
Introducing our newest members to the nationwide network of early career researchers and professionals, selected through the 2024 call for applications
ukyoungacademy.org
Excited to be part of this scientist-led initiative at @narjournal.bsky.social! I look forward to contributing initiatives from an early-career researcher perspective. @unisouthampton.bsky.social @sotonbiosciences.bsky.social
Nucleic Acids Research@narjournal.bsky.social · last yr.🌟 Thrilled to welcome our new Early Career Investigators to NAR including Kif Liakath-Ali (@kifla.bsky.social) Lecturer in Advanced Cell Biology at the University of Southampton! 🧬 #NucleicAcidsResearch #MolecularBiology #EarlyCareerInvestigators #Mentorship #OpenAccessResearch
I wrote a thing for @thetransmitter.bsky.social. The attack on scientific infrastructure happening in the US shows that relying on any one country is not a good option for science. We need to start supporting and building international, decentralised infrastructure for science.
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · last yr.Scientific data and independence are at risk: We need to work with community-driven services and university libraries to create new multi-country organizations that are resilient to political interference. By @neuralreckoning.bsky.social #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/policy/scien...
I joined 75+ @nobelprize.bsky.social laureates urging US Senators to oppose RFK Jr.'s confirmation as DHHS Secretary. If you’re in a state with GOP senators, PLEASE reach out to them! I’d deeply appreciate it if you amplified this post! 🙏 www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/h...
If you’re a federal govt employee targeted for leave or termination on the basis of your DEI work, please file an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) complaint & retain legal counsel. I’m a former NIH PI. Happy to refer you to a law firm that has successfully sued the govt many times! Pls repost 🙏❤️
